Ed Walter Greenlee

Funeral services for lifetime Cortez resident Ed Walter Greenlee will be held at 10 am on Tuesday April 18th at Ertel Funeral Home. Interment will follow at the Arriola Cemetery. A dinner will follow graveside services at the Lewis Arriola Community Center. Viewing will be held from 4 to 6 pm on Monday April 17th at Ertel Funeral Home. Ed passed away at his home peacefully with family by his side on April 12th 2016 in Cortez, Colorado. Ed was born on November 18th 1939 to Wilbur and Josephine Greenlee in Cortez Colorado. He was the 2nd of 8 children. He would spend the majority of his life in this area. At the age of 14 to ease the financial burden of his family he moved in with and went to work for Frank and Helen Blackmer on their ranch. They would live just outside of town during the school year and would spend their summers on the mountain. He continued to live with them until he left for the army in January of 1960. During his time in the army he was stationed in Germany and was recognized for his abilities as a sharpshooter. He also obtained his GED while in the service. In February of 1963 he returned to Cortez and went back to working as a Cowboy. Ed worked at several other jobs from being a carpenter for his brother Larry, hauling dry ice, to spending the last 20 plus years of his working days at Mesa Verde National Park but he was always at heart and will be remembered by his family as a Cowboy. Ed loved to dance and this would lead to him meeting the love of his life at the Fireman's Ball in 1973. He was married to Kathleen Loretta Faught on January 4th 1974. Ed and Kathy were married for 42 years before Kathy passed away on July 8th 2016. Ed spent the majority of his time helping his kids realize their dreams of rodeoing. There wasn't anyone that he didn't know and didn't cheer for at a rodeo. He was a friend to everyone and genuinely wanted everyone to succeed. He would run the in gate and everyone who entered the arena would hear him cheering them on. Ed is survived by his four children. Gwen (Mike) Durazo of San Jose Ca., Travis (Staci) Greenlee of Cortez, Laurie (Jason) McClain of Cortez, and Ed Ryan Greenlee of Briggsdale, Co.; 5 grandchildren Breanna, Cooper, Lane, Tylee, and Josey. He is survived by Brothers Lynn and Richard, and Sisters Glenna, Dorothy, Leah, and Delora. Ed was preceded in death by his wife Kathy, his parents, and his brother Larry. Ed will be remembered as a loving Husband, Father, and Grandpa as well as a Cowboy